Cowboy Churches Attracting Larger Crowds

ccecvoice »

Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:10 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

1) All Cowboy Churches are independent entities. The TFCC does provide training for the churches, but not all churches follow the training or recommendations we provide. Your mileage will vary. Not all Cowboy Churches are created equal.
2) Although most Cowboy Churches in Texas do relate to the BGCT/TFCC, they do so because these organizations have consistently opened their arms to the movement and provided quality training and resources. Associations aside, I have yet to find a LIBERAL Cowboy Church...
3) In MOST Cowboy Churches (see 1 above) there absolutely IS follow up and counseling. In our church EVERY family member requesting membership is contacted by a pastor. They must believe, be biblically baptized, and agree with our doctrine and mission to join.
4) The TFCC does NOT encourage the placement of non-members in positions of leadership. Again, not all churches accept this advice. (see 1 above)
5) The "Cowboy Bible" is nothing but a standard Zondervan NIV New Testament with cowboy art on the cover. In most Cowboy Churches, these are given away free. The cost associated with this practice would be too great with the whole Bible.
6) The "Altar Call" is a very new phenomenon in Christian life going back only about 100 years or so. Although this practice has been very effective in some settings, it has little biblical precedent. Most TFCC churches allow inquirers to fill out a "green sheet" NOT to "save" them or consummate their membership, but rather as a means by which they can be contacted for more personal and intensive follow up with a pastor or counselor.
7) TFCC churches are largely unapologetic in their focus on the "lost and unchurched" and are generally NOT interested in "transfer growth" from other churches. There are already numerous churches that cater to existing Christians. We exist primarily to reach the lost with the gospel.
8) Re: diversity. The Cowboy Church I attend is BY FAR the most diverse group of believers I have ever worshipped with. Our membership includes young, old, blue collar, white collar, black, white, Hispanic, outdoorsmen, computer geeks, tattooed, pierced, straight laced, and even cowboys. I have found in my travels that those who express so much concern that we are a "niche" church, in fact appear much less diverse.
9) If you suspect that the Cowboy Church is shallow, liberal, or unbiblical, I suggest you visit the websites of some of the more established cowboy churches and listen to some of their sermons. You can view the services of The Cowboy Church of Atascosa County, The Cowboy Church of Ellis County, and Bull Creek Cowboy Church online.
10) If you are attending a church you are uncomfortable with--leave. God has a church for you. But the body of Christ is rarely served by quarreling, gossip, and infighting. Find a church that has a mission and doctrine you agree with and support it.